Kenya · B2B & B2C
Obtaining a Betting & Gambling License in Kenya
A new Gambling Control Act 2025 brings the GRA in place of the BCLB, and the 30% local-ownership rule doesn't apply to online-only foreign operators. We structure your entry and run the licence.
Kenya at a glance
- Regulator
- Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), replacing the BCLB
- Law
- Gambling Control Act, No. 14 of 2025
- Online route
- Online bookmaker / online casino / online lottery licence
- GGR tax
- 15% of GGR (plus a 15% GGR Sports/SCAB levy and ~1% problem-gambling levy)
- Tax on winnings
- 5% on withdrawals (the 2026 Finance Bill may revert this to 20%)
- Min. capital / guarantee
- KES 100M (~US$770k) plus a bank guarantee, for online betting
- Timeline
- ≈ 3–5+ months (longer during the GRA transition)
- Foreign ownership
- Online-only foreign operators are exempt from the 30% Kenyan-ownership rule; land-based is 70/30
Key consideration: As at June 2026, a transition moratorium on new/renewal applications is in effect; an M-Pesa paybill also requires a valid licence, so no licence means no payments.
Kenya is East Africa’s most developed betting market, built on M-Pesa and a deeply entrenched sports-betting culture. As of 2025 it is also mid-reform: the Gambling Control Act 2025 replaced the old Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act and stood up a new regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority, in place of the BCLB.
Who needs a licence
Any operator taking bets, running a casino or operating a lottery for Kenyan players needs the relevant GRA licence, with specific online variants for remote bookmaking, online casino and online lottery. Software and equipment suppliers now have an explicit B2B category under the 2025 Act.
The process
Entry means a Kenyan-registered company with a dedicated local bank account, minimum capital of around KES 100M backed by a bank guarantee, real-time monitoring integration, and KYC/AML and responsible-gambling frameworks. Crucially, online-only foreign operators are exempt from the 30% Kenyan-ownership rule, a structuring advantage we use. SMPL Core handles incorporation, the resident director, the application and M-Pesa paybill onboarding, and can bundle the platform and payments.
Licence types
What you can license in Kenya
The B2C operator licences and B2B supplier routes we cover.
B2C operator licences
For brands taking bets or running games for players.
- Bookmaker / online betting
- Casino / online casino
- Public & online lottery
- Totalisator / pool betting
- Prize competition
B2B supplier licences
For software, platform and game suppliers.
- Gambling software / platform provider
- Gaming equipment manufacturer / supplier
How to get licensed in Kenya
End-to-end, from entity to live operation.
Jurisdiction & feasibility
We confirm the right licence class for your model and map the requirements, costs and timeline.
Company & resident director
We incorporate a compliant local entity (registered office, secretary, tax) and provide the resident/nominee director regulators require.
Application & regulator liaison
We draft and submit the application, prepare the probity dossier and manage the regulator through to grant.
Licence & go-live
We set up banking and payment rails and, if you want it, bundle the platform so you launch fast.
Costs
Government fees & taxes
Official regulator and tax figures. These are government charges, not SMPL's service fee. Figures verified 2026-06-11; confirm against the regulator before relying on them.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | KES 10k–1M (~$75–7,700) legacy/transitional schedule |
| Investigation | KES 50k–250k local / 500k–1M foreign |
| Licence grant | KES 200k–3M (~$1.5k–23k) |
| Annual licence | KES 50k–500k GRA schedule pending |
| GGR tax | 15% of GGR (plus a 15% GGR Sports/SCAB levy and ~1% problem-gambling levy) |
| Tax on player winnings | 5% on withdrawals (the 2026 Finance Bill may revert this to 20%) |
Get a tailored Kenya quote
Tell us your model, and we'll map a fast, compliant route and the all-in cost.
What we do
Our Kenya licensing services
End-to-end market entry. Pick the pieces you need.
Jurisdiction selection & feasibility
We compare regimes, taxes and timelines and recommend the right market and licence class for your model.
Local company incorporation
Registration of a compliant local entity, including memorandum/articles and registered office.
Nominee & resident-director provision
A vetted resident/local director to satisfy genuine-presence rules — structured for full beneficial-ownership transparency.
Registered office & company secretary
Local registered address, company secretary and statutory record-keeping.
Tax registration
Tax identification, gaming-tax and VAT registration with the local revenue authority.
UBO & fit-and-proper dossier
Preparation of beneficial-ownership disclosures and the probity/background-check pack regulators require.
Licence application & regulator liaison
Drafting and submission of the application and ongoing liaison with the regulator through to grant.
AML / KYC policy
Anti-money-laundering and KYC policies aligned to local law and FIU reporting requirements.
Responsible-gambling policy
Self-exclusion, deposit limits, age verification and responsible-gaming compliance.
Corporate bank account
Opening a local corporate and settlement account — a hard precondition for licensed operation.
Payments & mobile-money integration
Onboarding to local rails (M-Pesa, MoMo, bank transfer, cards) that an offshore licence can't access.
Software certification
GLI/BMM testing and technical certification of platform and games where required.
Renewals & ongoing compliance
Annual renewals, regulatory reporting and compliance audits so your licence stays live.
Why SMPL Core
A specialist in African licensing
Genuine national licences, a compliant local director, and an optional platform bundle, a combination few competitors match.
Africa-native, on the ground
We do the hard national licences in-market, not an offshore shell that can't touch local payments.
Compliant resident director
We provide the genuine local presence regulators require, with full beneficial-ownership transparency.
Platform on tap
Bundle SMPL's casino platform, aggregator and payments to go live under one SLA, optional and never forced.
Get licensed in Kenya
30 minutes, licensing only. We'll confirm the licence class you need in Kenya, what it costs and how long the grant realistically takes.
Kenya licensing FAQ
Common questions about getting licensed in Kenya.
No platform or game content yet?
Bundle SMPL's casino platform and game aggregator with original games, payments and hosting, and launch faster under one SLA.
Disclaimer: This page is general information about gambling licensing in Kenya. It is not legal, tax or financial advice and does not create a client relationship. SMPL Core is a market-entry and licensing consultancy, not a law firm or licensed legal practice; regulated legal and tax services are delivered through qualified local professionals. Laws, taxes, fees and timelines change frequently and some figures are indicative, so verify any figure with the relevant regulator or a qualified local adviser before acting; figures last reviewed 2026-06-11. We do not facilitate any arrangement intended to conceal beneficial ownership or circumvent local-ownership requirements.